Here are the statements in full by Charlie Brooks and Rebekah Brooks, delivered outside their solicitor's London office this afternoon.

Mr Brooks said: "I feel today is an attempt to use me and others as scapegoats, the effect of which will be to ratchet up pressure on my wife, who I believe is also the subject of a witch hunt.

"There are 172 police officers, the equivalent of eight murder squads, working on this; so it is no surprise to me the pressure is on to bring prosecutions however weak they may be.

"I have no doubt that the lack of evidence against me will be borne out in court but I have grave doubts that my wife can ever get a fair trial, given the huge volume of biased commentary which she has been subjected to.

"We will fight this in court."

Mrs Brooks said: "Whilst I have always respected the criminal justice system, I have to question today whether this decision was made on a proper impartial assessment of the evidence.

"I understand and know there needs to be a proper and thorough investigation and I am baffled by the decision to charge me today.

"However, more importantly, I cannot express my anger enough that those closest to me have been dragged into this unfairly.

"One day the details of this case will emerge and people will see today as nothing more than an expensive sideshow and a waste of public money as a result of an unjust and weak decision.

"I was the editor of the News of the World, I was the editor of The Sun and Chief Executive.

"Even News International's harshest critics can't wish to see today, people with no involvement of the central issues being treated like this and being involved like this.